We'll be breaking down each viewing session in the following fashion. Enjoy.

Setting the scene-- Alabama's first practice of the spring features the team's veterans. The newcomers will practice tonight. The Crimson Tide wore helmets, jerseys and shorts. The sun shined brightly as temperatures hovered around a very humid 83 degrees.

What we saw-- After two seasons as a defensive end, LaMichael Fanning opened Friday's practice with the tight ends and H-backs. He went through blocking drills during the first period and ran routes during the final two we were able watch. He caught a few passes, dropped some others. Fanning, who redshirted his first year and played sparsely last season, dropped a lot of weight during the offseason and looks to be even trimmer. He's currently listed at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. I'm sure Nick Saban will address the permanence of this move after practice.

-- Also with the H-backs and tight ends was Jalston Fowler, who looks to be running well on his surgically repaired knee. Fowler did this during last year's preseason, but he would often split time with the running backs. He didn't do that today, at least during the portion of practice we were able to watch.

-- Injured linebackers Trey DePriest (foot) and Xzavier Dickson (knee) were back and looking healthy. So was defensive lineman Wilson Love (concussion), wide receiver Kevin Norwood (toe), cornerback John Fulton (toe) and wide receiver DeAndrew White. Dickson, who had his right knee wrapped, was with the outside linebackers. C.J. Mosley, who wore a black non-contact jersey during the spring, was in red.

-- After spending the opening portions of practice with the cornerbacks during the spring, Christion Jones was with the wide receivers. Both Jones and Chris Black took passes out of the slot.

-- Despite not playing the position last season, Cyrus Jones was practicing with the veteran cornerbacks.

-- Dee Hart was with the running backs, joining T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake. The rest will practice tonight.

-- AJ McCarron, Blake Sims and Alec Morris were the quarterbacks at the veterans practice.

What's next?-- Saban and select players will meet with reporters after practice. We'll have live updates from Saban's press conference. The Crimson Tide's younger players will practice this evening.